Illuminating device for life-lines.



J. C. CERICOLA.

ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR LIFE LINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a. 1916.

1 ,1 85,367, Patented May 30, 1916;

WITNESSES IN VEN TOR Jami /2 CC'erz'aaZa 51 M M AZTORNEYS TH: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH 110., WASHINGTON, D. c.

IINITED STATES PATENT @FFIZQE.

JOSEPH C. CERICOLA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO H. M. TAYLOR, OF MOUNT SINAI, NEW YORK.

ILLUMINATING DEVICE FOR LIFE-LINES.

Application filed January 8, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. CERICOLA, a subject of the King of Italy, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Illuminating Device for Life-Lines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to illuminating devices and particularly to devices for illuminating a life line as the same is projected from the gun toward a stranded ship, and has for an object the provision of an improved arrangement which will cause a light to be produced as soon as the line starts on its travel and to be maintained during the entire travel of the line.

Another object in view is to provide an illuminating device which may ordinarily be handled without injury but when given a jerk by the projectile of the gun will burst into a flame so as to clearly illuminate the path which the projectile takes and the spot where it strikes.

A still further object in view is to provide an illuminating device arranged with a casing adapted to contain chemicals normally held separate but when mixed producing a flame.

In the accompanying drawings :-F igure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the device embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 1 on line 22; Fig. 3 is a section through Fig. 1 on line 33; F ig; 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the sliding members embodying certain features of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the usual line which is connected with a projectile fired by the gun over a given stretch of water or other place, and 2 indicates the line or cable connected with the shore. Preferably the line or cable 2 for a short distance is made from metal and is then connected with an ordinary rope cable. The use of a metal cable is very desirable as otherwise the flame of the illuminating device would burn the cable. Line 1 is connected with the eyelet of a sliding member 3 while line 2 is connected with the eyelet of a sliding member 4, said sliding members extending into acasing 5. Casing 5 may be made from any suitable material and is preferably some- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30,1916.

Serial No. 70,969.

what tapered at the forward end 5 while the rearward end has a plurality of openlngs 6 normally covered by a piece of paper 7 or a piece of thin cloth. This is to prevent the inflammable matter 8 from falling out, said matter being any suitable substance which may be ignited by the contents of the container 9. The matter 8 may, for instance, be a mixture of chlorate of potassium and sugar while the contents in the container may be sulfuric acid. In case the container 9 is broken the sulfuric acid will immediately cause the ignition of the matter 8 and the flame therefrom will be projected through openings 6, the paper or cloth member 7 being blown out or burned.

The container 9 is made from glass and extends through an aperture 10 in slide 4 and through apertures 11 and 12 in slide 3.

Slide 4 is preferably a single bar, as shown in Fig. 4, and provided with aperture 10 and also a slot 13, while the slide 3 is bifurcated and thereby presents arms 14 and 15, said arms straddling slide 1 and extending to near eyelet of slide 1 as shown in Fig. 1. A cotter pin 16 is passed through the slides, as shown at the left of Fig. 4:, so as to temporarily hold these slides together and thereby prevent any accidental breaking of the glass container 9. Then it is desired to use the device the cotter pin 16 is removed and the cable 1 connected with the projectile in the usual manner so that when the projectile is fired from the gun slide 3 will be given a jerk and thereby cause the container to become broken, whereupon the sulfuric acid therein will mix with the matter 8 and produce a flame, which flame will continue for an appreciable time, as for instance, a suflicient time for the full flight of the projectile, thus allowing the persons on the shore to see where the projectile strikes and to know how near the line has passed over the stranded ship.

The jerking action of the projectile is comparatively great so that a bolt 17 is provided extending through the arms 14: and 15 and also through slot 13, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1, said bolt clamping the slides together and holding the same normally against movement, thus preventing accidental breakage of the member 9 even when the pin 16 is removed. The great jerking power of the projectile will easily move slide 3 until the bolt 17 has moved to the opposite end of the slot 13 to that shown in Fig. 1, whereby the container 9 will become broken. The frictional resistance by the bolt does not retard the projectile as the device is connected to the cable 2 which is paid out in the usual manner. The only resistance to the projectile is the weight of easing 5 and associated parts, which is comparatively small and which by reason of the light provided will more than offset any objection as to this weight.

It will be observed that the flame passes rearwardly out of the device so that the same may be easily and continually's'een as the device moves through the air. When it. is desired to reload the device the ends may be removed if desired or the contents may be passed through a suitable opening 18 closed by cap 19.

A particular chemical has been described as the matter 8 and also another chemical has been described as the matter in casing 9, but it will be evident that other chemicals may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention provided a mixture of the contents will cause an immediate flame and also a continuation of the flame for an appreciable time.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In an illuminating device for life lines, a casing adapted to contain a chemical, a receptacle arranged in the casing adapted to contain a second chemical which when mixed with the first chemical will produce a fiame, and means connected to a life line extending into said casing and engaging said receptacle whereby when the life line is given a jerk said receptacle will be broken and the chemicals mixed.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a combustible chemical, said casing having openings in one end, a pair of members extending in said casing, one of said members being slidable with relation to the other, said sliding members being formed with apertures which normally register, a receptacle extending through said apertures, said receptacle containing a chemical difi'erent from the first mentioned chemical, one of said members being designed to be connected with a projectile and the other of said members being adapted to be connected with the life line whereby when the projectile is dis charged from the gun said members will be given a jerk and will thereby break said container for causing said chemicals to mix and produce a flame which is adapted to be projected from said Openings in said casin 3. In a. device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a chemical, said casing having an opening at one end, a bar extending in said casing and connected to a life line, a second bar connected to a projectile, said second bar extending to said casing, said bars being formed with registering apertures, a fragile container adapted to carry a chemical different from the first mentioned chemical and adapted to ignite the first mentioned chemical when mixed there with, said casing extending through said apertures, and means for limiting the movement of the movable bar when said projectile is discharged from the gun.

4. In a device of the character described,

a casing adapted to contain an inflammable chemical, said casing having apertures therein, a pair of bars extending in said casing, one of said bars being slidable with respect to the other, one of said bars having a slot arranged therein, a bolt extending through both of said bars, said bolt fitting in said slot whereby the movable bar is limited by the bolt and the length oi the slot, both of said bars having registering apertures, and a fragile container arranged in said apertures, said fragile container being adapted to contain a chemical which when mixed with the chemical in the casing will produce a flame.

5. In a device of the character described, a casing having apertures therein, a pair of bars extending in said casing, one of said bars bein slidable with respect to the other, said bars having apertures therein, and a fragile member extending through said apertures, said member adapted to be broken by the sliding member when moved, the casing being adapted to contain an inflammable matter while the receptacle is adapted to contain a chemical designed to.ignite said inflammable matter when mixed therewith.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH C. (JERICOLA...r

WVitnesses:

A. L. KITCHIN, G. H. EMsLIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. 0. 

